National Republican., 1887-10-04
The valley VirGinian" on virginia
Politics.

The I'aley IirgiHian, in an exhaustive
and well.considered article, reviews what
the NATIONAL REPUBLICAN, has said In re-
gard to the condition OF the Republican
party in Virsinia. The criticisms of the
I'irgiHidn upon the position taken by the
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN do not exceed the
proper limits of fair discussion, and the
whole article is one we'll intended to pro-
mote Republican success in the state.
The Iirginidn thinks that in its article OF
the 22d OF September the NATIONAL Re-
PUBLICAN made some mistakes because 1t
declared that success must be considered
before personal grievances--that the duty OF
every Republican was to aid in winning
victory-that the time to settle party
grievances was at the coming state con.
vention, and that 1t was political suicide
for any Of the leaders Of the party to aid In
defeating the party because Its success might
enure to the benefit of ex-senator Malone.
The Valley Tirginian closes by saying of
tie NATIONAL REPUBLICAN;
We are always gratifed 10 have Its able as
sistance in fighting the battles of Republican
ism against Democracy in Virginia, but 1t
ought TO be sure that 1t Is right before 1t goes
ahead. Despotic bossism In Virginia has to
go, whether 1t be in one party or the other, as
the people are fully aroused as to this The In
terests OF the Republican party OF Virginia as
well as the "Republlcan party OF the nation"
demand this And thisdemand is emphasized
by q reference to the past OF which the RRPUB-
IIcAS ought not TO be Ignorant. The Republic
cans Of Virginia are not all slaves, nor are they
all posing for office and salary. There are
grave interests to consult and consider In this
state apart from any national affairs, aud In
these the peoplear directly concerned. They
do not want 10 SEQ their hopes wrecked in this
respect In a wild scramble on the part of the
leaders for Office and power-to be used to
peTseCute aud humiiate those who dare TO
think that "leaders," like other people, -are
fallible. and that II 10 TO them more than to
the people disasters are properly chargeable
When II comes TO an issue between any one
man or combination of "leaders" aud the Re.
publican party, We are for the Republic IN
party. II will live when the LEADERS arc
forgotten or only remembered for the mischief
they may have done And Ia maintaining
this position we not only serve the bests inter-
ests of the Republicans of Virginia, but the
"RepuDlicnn party of the nation" and GER
tainly preserve our selfrespect.
The Valley Yrginian cannot possibly go
further In opposition TO "bossism" than
the Ma TIoNAL REPUBLICAN goes. In fact,
the intelligent men OF the country-the
class from which the Republican party
draws most of its members-is itself q pro-
test against "bossism."
But there are worse things than "boss-
ism." Bourbon rule in Virginia is one OF
these. Admit that ex-senator Malone at
tempts to play the role of "boss' In Vir-
ginia politics, cannot the Republicans OF
that state remember that he is for this can
vass, by their act, chairman OF the execu-
tive committee, which is the organized
power Of the partyp
That is what the NATIONAL REPUBLICAN
protests against And its position cannot
be mistaken as to Senator Malone. It
recognizes In him q Republican Of ability
and standing, but owes him no more fealty
than II does every other Republican. 1t
claims that the contest in Virginia is be-